Handle-switch fob



J. B. KIRBY. HANDLE SWITCH FOR SUCTION CLEANERS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-27, I914.

Patented Aug; 22, 1916.

g for Suction-GleanersQof which the follow-.

JAMES B. KIIRJBY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

HANDLE-SWITCH FOR SUCTION-CLEANERS. 1

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented 22, 1916 Application filed November 27, 1914. Serial No. 874,318;

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMns B. KIRBY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Handle-Switches v ing is a full, clear, and exact description,

about the same as that of.

complete cleaner reference being drawings. v I

This invention relates to suction cleaners or other electrically Operated devices of .a nature to be pushed by hand along a level surface, the electrical mechanism being at all times under the control of the operator.

The objects of this invention are the provision of a switch casing and switch operating mechanism which shall be more conven ient, better fitted to the hand, more easily manipulated, and less liable to be broken or injured by the incidents of use than other devices prior to my invention 7 Other objects of the invention are theprovision of a switch casing ofgreat reliability, simplicity, neatness, and ease of manufacture, handle and to which the flexible cord can be easily attached, and further objectsand advantages will ppear as the description proceeds.

i g apart of this application I have shown certain of the simplest and most preferable embodiments with which I am familiar, though these are merelysuggestive of many which may be employed.

In these drawings Figure 1 represents the in use, showing the mode of holding the same; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the end of the handle and switch casing; Fig. 3 is a transverse cross sectional view uponthe line 33 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a modified form of cap.

Describing the parts by reference characters, 1 represents generally the casing of the cleaner, 2 the wheels that. support the same,

3the handle pivoted thereto by which the same is operated, 4 the dust bag, and 5 the flexible cord by which the necessary energy is brought to the device. Cleaners of this nature are operated by being pushed and pulled over the floor somewhat after the manner of a common carpet-sweeper, the length of. the handle 3 being ordinarily a carpet-sweeper,

had to the accompanyingoperators hand, I

and that can be-easily applied to the.

In the drawingsaccompanying and formand in this mode of operation it is natural ratherthan to the lower end sinceit is thus kept outof the way ofthe machine, and it i is desirable to locate the electric switch for starting and stopping the machine at the upper end of the handle since this avoids the necessityof stooping over and feeling about I in some inaccessible part of the machine.

Besides it is sometimes important to shut off the power quickly. In order that the switch control may be immediately at the .form the switch casing itself as a handhold for this handle, employing, preferably, a standard switch of the rotary pole type secured to a rotatable cap which terminates and forms a closure for the end of this casing. Also, in order to facilitate and expedite the turning of this cap I deflect the end of this casing downwardly so as to bring the same into asubstantially horizontal position during its ordinary use as shown in Fig. 1, this being the position in which the turning of the cap can be most quickly performed. Preferably this cap forms a continuation is preferably made with a roughened surface slightly larger in diameter than the .casing so that the handmay obtain :1 firm grasp of the cap at all timesthat the cleaner isin use. As here shown this casing consists of a hollow shell 6 having one end portion 7 of cylindricalshape adapted to receive the end of the handle 3 and having the other end portion 8 also of cylindrical shape angularly related to the portion 7 and receiving the switch mechanism 9. My experience indicates that the angle between the portions 7 and 8 should be about 35 to 45, though a small change in this regard I consider immaterial to the invention. The

of the casing, and

portion 8 is generally of slightly largerdiameter than the portion 7 in order to accommodate the switch mechanism, the latter being of any suitable kind though preferably having an aXial rotatable stud 10.

whose body is of porcelain and whose stud is formed with a threaded portion 11 for end of the shell is closed by means of a metal Ordinarlly I use a standard commercial switch cap as shown in Fig. 4;, said cap in this instance consisting of a hemispherical por tion 12 corresponding in diamet'erto the portion 8 of the casingand terminating in an abrupt shoulder 13, adapted to rest against the correspondingly abrupt end of the casing. Outside of the shoulder 13 the cap bears an integral, cylindrical extension let closely embracing the portion 8 and knurled or corrugated on its surface. Interiorly this cap is provided with an axial boss 15 having an "internally threaded socket at its end adapted for the reception of the threaded perienced withthe breakage of the switches,

since if the handle 3 be allowed to fall suddenly upon the floor, the bent shape of the switch. casing causes this cap to strike first and the blow is sometimes transmittedthrough the stud 15 with a 'sufiicient force to shatter the porcelain 9. This difliculty is largely overcome by the square engagement of theshoulder 13, and is more liable to occur in case the cap be not thoroughly screwed up against the end of the stud. In order to overcome this difliculty I have provided the arrangement shown in Fig. 2 wherein the cap is shown at 16 and similarly has a shoulder 17, though in this case I-have illustrated it as provided with a cylindrical extension 18 adapted to fit inside of the casing 8-instead of outside as before. Immediately adjacent to the shoulder 17 is a slight enlargement 19 externally knurled or corrugated for a hand- .lhold as before. Interiorly this cap bears a fixed stud 20 to which is secured a hollow barrel 21 having at-its outer end an internal flange 22-formed with a hexagonal or other non-circular opening 23 as shown in Fig. 3. Projecting through this aperture is a similarly shaped connector 24 having at its inner end a head 25 slidable along the barrel. Be

tween the head 25 and flange 22is interposed a co1l'-spr1ng.26, while the end of the connector is recessed and threaded as before for connection withtlie stud 10. When this cap is applled to the end of the casing the operation of the thread is to draw the conmotor 24 against the spring 26, thus pulling the shoulder 17 snugly against the end ofthe casing and' also preventing the transfer of any damaging blows to the switch in case the handle should fall on the floor.

The cap shown in Fig. 2 is formed of a composition of cement-itious substance while that in Fig. 4: is formed of metal, the former being preferable since a non-conductor. The engagement of the shoulder 13 or 17 with the end of the casing tends to shield theswitch mechanism in both cases while the enlargeployed, thereby bringing the control of the motor continuously under the operators hand. p

The handle is preferably grooved for the reception of the wires 30 leading to the .motor, the upper end of this groove being preferably deepened for the reception of the cord 5. The end of this cord is preferably surrounded with a wire helix 31 to prevent kinking, and this is conveniently held in place by the switch casing itself.

' While I have described the form shown in Fig. 2 as an improvement in certain respects over that shown in Fig. 4:, I do not mean to indicate the latter as being part of. the prior art since I claim both forms as my invention as well as numberless other forms notspecifically described but falling within the terms of the claims hereto annexed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: 5

l. A switch casing for cleaner handles comprising a hollow shell having its end 3 portions disposed atan'angle to each other,

. one of said portions being adapted to receive the end of the handle and the other having a rotatable cap fitted to the end thereof, and switch mechanism in said cas ing and operatively connected to said cap.

2. In a cleaner, a switch casing comprising a hollow shell having angularly related portions one of which is adapted to receive the cleaner handle and the other the switch mechanism, the latter. portion having a shouldered circular end, a cap fitted to said second portion and having a shouldered circular end facing the end of said casing, said cap having an offset ortion fitting against the wall of said caslng and means for securing said cap operatively to the switch mechanism. g i

3. In a cleaner, a switch casing comprising a hollow shell having angularly related portions one of which is adapted to receive the cleaner handle and the other the switch mechanism, switch mechanism in said last portion and having an axial threaded stud, a cap fitted to the end of said shell, a hollow barrel within said cap, a threaded connector non-rotatably mounted within said barrel but freely movable therealong, and a resili- IZQ ent member between said connector and the end of said barrel, said connector .being screwed to the end of said stud.

4:. In an electrically operated cleaner, a switch casing comprising a hollow shell having one end secured to the cleaner handle and the other end portion disposed at an angle thereto so as to be substantially horizontal during the normal use of the cleaner, switch mechanism in the last named portion r of the shell and having an axial threade d switch mechanism in said shell and stud, and a rotatable cap fitted to the end of said shell and having a portion adjacent to said shell of larger diameter than said shell and exteriorly roughened.

5. In a device of the character described,

the combination, with an operating handle,

of a switch casing comprising a hollow shell and having one end secured to said handle, having a rotatable stud axial with the other end thereof, and a rotatable cap having a cylindrical portion overlapping the end of said shell and having a convex terminal portion forming a rounded continuation of said shell, said capbeing operatively connected to said stud and having its portion adjacent to said shell of greater diameter than said shell and exteriorly roughened. I

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence, of two witnesses.

JAMES B. KIRBY.

Witnesses:

BRENNAN B. WEST, HAROLD E. SMITH. 

